Strengthening our Du'a - Part 3

Rejection (of Du'a)
(By : Moulana Khalid Dhorat)


Reasons that may cause our Du’a to be rejected include the following:

1. Haraam: Haraam eating, drinking and clothing are all strictly prohibited and are major reasons for the rejection of Du’a. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers. He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) then mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: “O Lord, O Lord” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered? (Muslim). Abu Bakr said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying ‘Every body which is nourished with that which is unlawful, will be first in the fire’

2. Hastiness and abandonment: One must be patient for ones Du’a to be accepted, as hastiness is one of the causes for its rejection or disapproval. Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The invocation of any one of you is granted (by Allah) as long as he does not show impatience by saying ‘I have invoked Allah but my request has not been answered’” (Bukhari). In another narration by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “A servant is granted his request as long as he does not invoke Allah for a sin, or to break kinship ties, and he does not make haste.”

3. Committing sins: Allah said, “Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Qur’an 13:11). That is to say, if a people’s condition is good, Allah will maintain it as long as they are grateful and do not disobey Him. Similarly, if the condition of a people is bad, Allah will maintain it for them as long as they remain ungrateful and insist on disobeying him.

4. Abandonment of obligatory deeds: Just as doing good deeds is a reason for the acceptance of Du’a, similarly, abandoning good deeds is a reason for the rejection of Du’a. Hudaifah, radhiallahu anhu, narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “By Him, in whose hand is my soul, you should enjoin good and forbid evil or else it is likely that Allah will send a punishment upon you and then you will invoke Him and you will not be answered” (Tirmithi). So, for example, how could those who have constantly neglected and abandoned Fajr prayers in the Masjid expect that their Du’a will be answered?

5. Insha Allah: Some people, when supplicating, have a habit of saying “May Allah forgive you Insha Allah,” “May Allah help you Insha Allah.” The use of the word Insha Allah must me avoided in Du’a.

6. Asking for a sin, or to break the bondage of kinship: The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Any Muslim who supplicates to Allah in a Du’a which contains no sin or breaking of kinship, Allah will give him one of three things: either his Du’a will be immediately answered or, it will be saved for him in the hereafter, or it will turn away an equivalent amount of evil (from him)”. The companions said “...so we will ask for more.” He replied, “Allah is more (generous).” [Ahmad]